A lot of folks are looking forward to Thanksgiving this year, but there’s also a large contingent of people who are eagerly anticipating the night before.
Known variously as “Drunksgiving,” “Drinksgiving” and “Blackout Wednesday,” the evening before the main holiday event has taken on a life of its own. It’s become one of the biggest drinking holidays of the year.
Why has Blackout Wednesday become such a big event?
A lot of it probably has to do with the way that the Thanksgiving holiday tends to bring together people who haven’t seen each other for a while. Some people reconnect with their cousins and siblings over the holiday, while others head back to their hometowns and meet up with old friends. That sets the mood – and the tone – and easily evolves into a party night.
Whatever the reason, it’s wise to remember that there can be a lot more drunk drivers on the road than usual. When people overindulge, they can be poor judges of their own abilities. If you have to be on the road or walking anywhere, look out for:
- Drivers who have forgotten to turn on their headlights
- Drivers who are driving abnormally slowly
- Drivers who seem to fall asleep at stop signs or red lights
- Cars that are weaving over the yellow line or hitting the curbs
- Any vehicle that is on the road after midnight when the bars start to close
There’s nothing wrong with celebrating the season, so long as you do it responsibly. If you’re drinking, don’t drive. If you have to go anywhere at all, be watchful of drunk drivers. If you are involved in a wreck, you may need to find out what it takes to get fair compensation for your losses.